Ethanol the Cure for Omaha’s Bad Gas

John Davis

NEethanolboardNew tests show that Omaha has a case of bad gas, but ethanol could be the cure. The Nebraska Ethanol Board says gasoline at the Magellan fuel terminal in Omaha showed some samples tested to having as much as 30 percent by volume of toxic substances in fuel that wasn’t blended with ethanol.

Toxics such as benzene, xylene and toluene are added to gasoline to increase octane, which is necessary to reduce engine knock. These substances, known collectively as “aromatics”, are known toxins and, in some cases, known or suspected carcinogens or cancer-causing substances.

In the July fuel samples, these toxics accounted for nearly 30 percent of volume in base gasoline without ethanol added. However, when 10 percent ethanol was added to the mix, the volume of toxic compounds dropped to 23 percent—or nearly by one-fourth that of straight gasoline.

“While ‘aromatics’ may sound like a good thing, they are actually a huge threat to human health,” said Angela Tin, vice president of environmental health for the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest. “These toxics do not completely combust in the engine and therefore exit the tailpipe as tiny particles that enter our lungs, heart, brains and bloodstream.”

Particulate matter from vehicle exhaust has been linked to brain cancer, lung cancer, heart disease and asthma — and is especially harmful to infants, children and people suffering from heart or respiratory problems.

Tin says fuel with ethanol is a cleaner air alternative. “Ethanol is a clean-burning, non-toxic source of octane,” she said. “The more ethanol in our fuel, the lower the volume of toxic compounds in our fuel and in the air we breathe.”

Nebraska Ethanol Board officials point out that ethanol adds oxygen to fuel and that helps the fuel burn more completely with more of the toxic compounds completely burned in the engine rather than coming out the tailpipe.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

California LCFS Opens Opportunities for Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

nBBThe National Biodiesel Board (NBB) is very pleased with the decision last week by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to readopt the Low Carbon Fuels Standard and the increased role biodiesel will play in that standard.

The new standard finds that biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent and often by as much as 81 percent versus petroleum, giving it the best carbon score among all liquid fuels.

“Biodiesel is the most sustainable fuel on the planet,” said Don Scott, National Biodiesel Board director of sustainability. “Low carbon alternatives can also be low cost alternatives when we use diverse supplies of renewable resources. This validates that California’s carbon reduction goals are obtainable.”

Scott took part in a conference call today with University of California-Davis Extension Agronomist Stephen Kaffka, who is director of the California Biomass Collaborative. “The production of low carbon intensity feedstocks from all sources is important,” said Kaffka. “The fuels that have the best carbon performance are the ones that should have a market in California.”

Kaffka adds that the standard allows for “innovation and competition” to create new fuels from new pathways. “These fuels can come from any number of sources, including agricultural crops, but also the conversion of forest residues, lumber harvesting and thinning, and the recycling and conversion of organic wastes from urban sources,” he said. “Diesel can be made from both crops and from residues of various sorts.”

Listen to the conference call here: National Biodiesel call on California LCFS

Audio, Biodiesel, Low Carbon Fuel Standard, NBB

Germany Drives Demands for Renewable Electricity

Joanna Schroeder

Renewable electricity demand in Europe is on the rise with businesses and consumers voluntarily purchasing renewable electricity with Guarantees of Origin. According to data published by the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB), the European market is expected to reach a total market volume of 400 Terrawatt hour (TWh) in 2015 with Germany playing a dominating role.

In 2014 Germany reached a volume of 80 TWh, and is on track to reach a volume of 100 TWh in 2015, accounting for 25 percent of the European volume. The German figures as of Q2 in 2015 already Market demand for renewable electricity in Europeshow a market demand of 69 TWh, an increase of 11 TWh, 19 percent higher than the 2nd quarter last year. Germany, with a total power consumption of 580 TWh, is now close to having 20 percent of all consumption documented as renewable.

For Europe in total, the 2015 2nd quarter numbers show an increase of 25 TWh compared to Q2 in 2014 – an increase of 11 percent. The total demand for Q2 reached a record volume of 255 TWh.

The development in 2015 follows a record-breaking 2014, during which the market experienced a 27.6 percent growth and an all-time high of 314 TWh in renewable electricity demand. Moreover, for the first time since 2011, there was a real balance between supply and demand.

The European demand for renewable electricity documented by Guarantees of Origin now constitute more than 10 percent of all electricity consumption in Europe (ca. 3,300 TWh) and more than one third of all electricity from renewable sources in Europe (ca. 900 TWh).

 

Electricity, Renewable Energy

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. will supply TSK Electrónica y Electricidad, S.A. (“TSK”) with 49.8MW of PV solar modules for the largest solar PV plant in Mexico. Located in the State of Durgango, the solar PV plant is the first PV solar plant in Mexico to be connected to the National Power System. Durango TAI is currently in the second stage of construction of phase one. The total five phases of 49.8 MW is expected to be completed this year.
  • NorthWestern Energy has completed its previously announced acquisition of the 80-megawatt Beethoven wind project located near Tripp, South Dakota from BayWa r.e. Wind LLC for $143 million.
  • Dominion Foundation has presented the University of Maryland with a $50,000 educational grant. The grant, part of Dominion’s Higher Educational Partnership, was one of 40 awarded to colleges and post-secondary schools to fund projects in energy, environmental studies, engineering and workforce development.
  • Voya Financial has announced that it has joined the RE100, a global list of prominent companies that have pledged to source 100 percent of their electricity from renewable energy in an effort to reduce CO2 emissions and advance environmentally responsible business practices. Voya has purchased clean, emission-free wind energy credits equal to 100 percent of its electricity usage since 2007.
Bioenergy Bytes

Logan’s Gap Wind Farm Up & Running

Joanna Schroeder

The Logan’s Gap Wind facility located in Comanche County, Texas is up and running. A majority of the power created from the 200 MW wind farm will be sold to Walmart via a long-term power purchase agreement.

Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines“Logan’s Gap Wind is our fourth operational wind power facility in Texas and we are now serving three different regions throughout the state,” noted Mike Garland, CEO of Pattern Energy, who built the wind farm. “We continue to bring new facilities online both on time and on budget, demonstrating our ability to execute on our growth strategy. We are pleased to be working with one of the leading corporations in the world as it acquires renewable energy and lowers its carbon footprint. We are increasingly partnering with America’s leading companies as they recognize that wind power, which continues to decline in cost, is both good for the environment and good for business.”

The facility will sell 75 percent of the electricity produced to Walmart and a financial institution. Walmart has a 10-year power purchase agreement to acquire 58% of the expected output from the facility. Seventeen percent of the expected output will be sold under a 13-year fixed price agreement with a A-/Baa2-rated financial institution. The remaining 25 percent of expected output will be sold at ERCOT spot market prices.

“Walmart has a goal to be supplied by 100 percent renewable energy, and sourcing from wind energy projects — like the Logan’s Gap Wind Facility — is a core component in the mix,” added Mark Vanderhelm, vice president of energy for Walmart. “The energy we’ll procure from this facility represents nearly one-fifth of the U.S. portion of our goal to source seven billion kilowatt hours of renewable energy by 2020. That’s a significant leap forward on our renewable energy journey.”

Clean Energy, Electricity, Wind

CARB Affirms Biodiesel’s Low-Carbon Impact

John Davis

CARBThe nation’s toughest regulatory board has affirmed biodiesel is the lowest-carbon fuel. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to readopt the Low Carbon Fuels Standard, which requires a 10 percent reduction by 2020 in the carbon intensity of transportation fuels. The vote also put in a regulation governing alternative diesel fuels (ADF).

The regulation puts in place a three-step process beginning in 2016 to create a path to bring cleaner diesel substitutes into the market. This regulation also establishes requirements and fuel specifications for biodiesel to ensure the emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from biodiesel use will not increase, and will be reduced over time. Biodiesel and other ADFs can help producers achieve their target under the LCFS.

nBBThe National Biodiesel Board (NBB) welcomed the vote and pointed out biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent and often by as much as 81 percent versus petroleum, giving biodiesel the best carbon score among all liquid fuels.

“This is not an academic exercise. It’s where the rubber hits the road in determining where Californians get their fuels for the next 20 or 30 years,” said NBB’s Director of Sustainability Don Scott. “It’s the difference between continuing the status quo of oil dependence and stimulating the development of cleaner alternatives. CARB should be commended for its leadership and for taking a bold approach. We are proud that biodiesel is part of the solution.”

Biodiesel

Fuel Cell Tax Extenders Act Introduced

Joanna Schroeder

Congressman John LarsonThere are a few in Washington, D.C. who have not forgotten about fuel cell technology. The Fuel Cell Tax Extenders Act of 2015 has been introduced by Representative John Larson (D-CT) with co-sponsors Representatives Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Chris Gibson (R-NY). If passed, the bi-partisan bill would extend federal incentives for residential, commercial and vehicular fuel cell use as well as extend and expand credits for hydrogen infrastructure. In response, companies like Plug Power have come out in support of the bill and stressed that the passage will provide certainty for fuel cell manufactures and investors.

“Fuel cell technology continues to grow and improve, supporting thousands of jobs and supplying clean energy to more and more Americans,” said Larson in a press statement. “Extending incentives for businesses, homeowners, or those purchasing new cars will make it easier to develop and use fuel cell and hydrogen technology—and provide the certainty that such investments remain affordable and accessible for all. These incentives are already in place. As the technology continues to improve, it just makes sense to ensure more Americans have access to this clean, affordable energy.”

The current tax iScreen Shot 2015-09-24 at 4.26.18 PMncentives for fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen infrastructure are set to expire at the end of this year, while the fuel cell investment tax credit for material handling and stationary fuel cells will end on December 31, 2016. This legislation will extend all of the credits through the year 2021. And, said Plug Power, The Fuel Cell Extenders Act of 2015 helps to level the playing field, enabling customers of all sizes to invest in new business-improving technology like hydrogen fuel cells.

“The existing tax credits have been very successful in sparking great interest and demand for hydrogen and fuel cell solutions, thus passing this bill now will help keep that momentum strong,” said Andy Marsh, CEO at Plug Power. “I commend Representatives Larson, Tonko and Gibson for their steadfast support for hydrogen fuel cell technology adoption and for Plug Power’s continued growth.”

Congressman Tonko, one of the bill’s co-sponsors said of the proposed bill, “Fuel cell technology has gained widespread traction because of the efficiency and productivity gains that are realized. This is something everyone can get on board with,” said Congressman Tonko. “This legislation extends a critical and robust tax credit that will provide the incentive for large-scale conversions to this clean technology at manufacturing and distribution centers across the country, which will ultimately lead to new jobs. I thank Congressman Larson for his commitment to encouraging innovation and making energy efficiency our fuel of choice.”

Alternative Vehicles, Clean Energy

Algenol to Aid China in CO2 Reductions

Joanna Schroeder

Algenol is partnering with South China’s Fujian Zhongyuan New Energy Company (ZYNE) to solve three major problems: lack of clean air, clean water and the needs for sustainable, low carbon fuels. The two companies will work together on an exploration project where Algenol will take ZYNE’s captured CO2 and covert it to ethanol. Algenol’s technology, Direct to Ethanol, uses the CO2 as the feedstock for algae to produce ethanol, gas, diesel and biojet fuel.

Paul-Woods-and-Wang-Suwei-Sign-Partnership

Algenol’s CEO and Founder Paul Woods and Wang Suwei, ZYNE’s Chairman of the Board in Seattle, WA

“We all share one atmosphere. Clean air has no borders,” said Algenol CEO Paul Woods during a ceremony to solidify the partnership. “We are eager to bring our technology to China because we know that our process can remove health-damaging pollution straight from its source and turn it into renewable fuel and clean water.”

According to an Algenol press statement, this partnership unites the economic and environmental benefits of their technologies with ZYNE’s existing expertise in delivering renewable fuels in China. The companies will identify and evaluate the utilization of CO2 emissions from industrial sources such as power plants, steel mills, cement and chemical factories in the Fujian province, and other parts of Southern China. Once the CO2 sources are identified, the process will begin to incorporate Algenol’s technology solution of carbon capture and utilization and renewable fuel production. An added benefit of Algenol’s technology is the primary by-product of clean water, which is valuable to many communities in Southern China.

advanced biofuels, algae, biojet fuel, Renewable Energy

BioEnergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

  • BioEnergyBytesDF1DuPont Microcircuit Materials (DuPont) was granted the 2015 Solar Industry Award in the photovoltaic (PV) Materials category for its DuPont Solamet PV19x series of PV metallization pastes, designed to help boost the power output of solar panels, lower overall system costs and improve the return on investments in solar energy systems. The company accepted the award during a ceremony held at the European PV Solar Energy Conference in Hamburg, Germany.
  • New York State Senator Catharine Young (R) recently announced $1million in state aid to help establish the Bio-refinery Development and Commercialization Center (BDCC) on Alfred State’s School of Applied Technology campus in Wellsville, New York. The proposed center will be used to further advance research of the Hot Water Extraction (HWE) process, which extracts useful chemicals from natural products, and take the current successful HWE process, developed in the laboratory at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), to a commercial level.
  • Edison Electric Institute (EEI) President Tom Kuhn was recognized as the 2015 Trade Association CEO of the Year during the Association Leadership Awards luncheon held in Washington, D.C. Presented by CEO Update, the award recognizes excellence in trade associations and professional societies.
  • The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region will overtake Europe to become the largest contributor to global solar Photovoltaic (PV) installed capacity, increasing its cumulative installed capacity from 63.3 Gigawatts (GW) in 2014 to 345.33 GW by 2025, according to research and consulting firm GlobalData. The report states that this increase, which will occur at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.7%, follows a period of highly positive growth, when the region’s capacity rocketed from 1.94 GW in 2006 to 63.33 GW in 2014, at an impressive CAGR of 54.6%.
Bioenergy Bytes

Cause of Ethanol Train Derailment Probed

Cindy Zimmerman

train-derailFederal investigators are looking into why seven ethanol tanker cars derailed in South Dakota over the weekend. No one was injured in the derailment that occurred early Saturday morning, but at least one of the cars caught fire in the accident involving a 98-car Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad train.

Senate Transportation Committee chairman John Thune (R-SD) is watching the investigation closely and says they believe the derailment was caused by a broken rail or structural failure in the small bridge where the incident occurred. “Safety has got to be the highest priority,” said Thune. “These were some of the older model cars that actually derailed and started a fire there.” The Department of Transportation has required updates to fuel transportation cars, including the unjacketed DOT-111 cars which commonly carry ethanol.

“Ethanol should have some different treatment with respect to these cars compared to oil tank cars,” Thune said. “Most of the seven cars that derailed were older models that will require upgrades under these new safety standards.” Five of the seven cars were the DOT-111 models and two were newer jacketed models that will still be required to have some upgrades under the new standards.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, transportation